Dear Yulegoat 2013...
Wow, it's scary how long it's been since I've updated. You get out of the habit and drift away.
I also just got back from Sirens which I urge anybody who's interested in fantasy, and particularly women writing fantasy, should check out. The theme for next year is HAUNTINGS which is going to have been excited until next October.
Being in beautiful Washington State meant I only had a short time on returning to sign up for Yuletide, but I've done it. Hello Yuletide writer and thank you! You are guaranteed an enthusiastic audience for your story, I can tell you.
My main rule of thumb about this letter is that if it inspires you, use it. If it stifles you, ignore it. I don't have any "perfect" stories in my head, I'd really just love to read anything in these fandoms or along these lines. For general likes/dislikes I'm fine with darkfic, even horror, and feel free to write whatever rating you like. To give you an idea of what excites me about the fandoms, here you go!
The Americans - Philip Jennings, Elizabeth Jennings
This is the new show I'm obsessed with. I've recently discovered The Americans discussion group on Dreamwidth that anyone who loves the show should check out--we're doing a rewatch of the first season now. I've written a bit there about things I love about the show if you're wondering about how I see the characters.
Like a lot of people, I'm just obsessed with the relationships on the show, the interplay of lies and truth, questions of identity. I'm especially interested in Philip and Elizabeth, not surprisingly. Where do the lies leave off and the truth begin? We know a lot about Elizabeth's backstory so I'm always wondering about Philip's. I won't ask for a backstory because it'll probably get jossed in February and I don't want to get too attached to a backstory that won't last, but if you're inspired or it helps you bring out his character, have at it! Certain things we can assume about both characters--they're always looking at the US through Russian eyes, but can't ever talk about the contrast. How do they look at their children, for instance? It seems like Paige and Henry are a major thing that drew Philip and Elizabeth together. As parents they have different styles that compliment each other but their commitment is the same and I feel like that must go along way in helping them trust and understand each other as much as they do. I also love stories about their early marriage and child-raising days, ways they figured out how to do things. For instance--how did they decide on Henry and Paige as names? Yay!
Dark Shadows (1966) - Willie Loomis, Barnabas Collins
This one has a strange story to it. I always knew of this show because my older sister was obsessed with it, but I was too young to actually see it. I recently discovered it on Netflix, which starts right when Barnabas shows up. So I got really into it, especially Willie Loomis, and then I wound up getting swamped and couldn't see it! So I've really not seen that much of it! However, I'm still asking for it, because I just really would love it, and I think there's still plenty for you to do since I'm mostly interested in Barnabas and Willie's relationship. I love that it's so old school vampire, and Willie is the kind of character I love--a little worm that everyone hates who then winds up in a bad situation. He's not a hero, so he's not going to be the guy to vanquish the evil, he's just going to suffer, and be very miserable, and have nobody on his side.
The show's older than I am so I'm not going to blame you for any spoilers that might get in there! Slash is fine, if that's where you want to go or where the story takes you. In terms of where I am so far watching I'm very early in their relationship. Don't feel like that means you have to set your story early in the relationship. It might give you a sense of who you're talking to when it comes to details. Yay!
The Office (UK) - Tim Canterbury
I love Tim, and I'm interested in what kinds of adventures (adventures by Office standards, I guess) he might have had in the years between the final ep and the Christmas special. Dawn's gone (taking with her that one bright spot in his life), but feel free to bring in other characters like Gareth or David or hell, even Chris Finch. You can decide what kind of thing you'd like to happen--it can be romantic, funny, sad, unbelievable, crazy--even scary if it goes that way. Whatever thing you think best suits Tim's state of mind during those Dawn-less years. Of course he can think about Dawn, but don't feel like she has to be the center of his thoughts at all times, especially since he's got no reason to think she'll come back. Yay!
Dark is Rising sequence
I'm being blatantly greedy with this one, because I got a wonderful story for this fandom my first year in Yuletide but the world needs more Will/Jane fic so I'm asking for it again since I'd love to see different takes on it. I feel like Will brings out what’s special about Jane because she was the first to see something special in Will (even if she doesn’t yet know/remember what it is). That always seemed almost like a nice metaphor for love to me, the way she sees something more in somebody very ordinary. Also, of course, Jane has an instinctive empathy for the loneliness of immortal magical beings, and Will’s been properly humbled by that in canon. So hopefully that gives you an idea of the kind of tone I tend to like with Will/Jane. Don't feel like you have to write romance at all, though. Gen is absolutely great too. Yay!
I also just got back from Sirens which I urge anybody who's interested in fantasy, and particularly women writing fantasy, should check out. The theme for next year is HAUNTINGS which is going to have been excited until next October.
Being in beautiful Washington State meant I only had a short time on returning to sign up for Yuletide, but I've done it. Hello Yuletide writer and thank you! You are guaranteed an enthusiastic audience for your story, I can tell you.
My main rule of thumb about this letter is that if it inspires you, use it. If it stifles you, ignore it. I don't have any "perfect" stories in my head, I'd really just love to read anything in these fandoms or along these lines. For general likes/dislikes I'm fine with darkfic, even horror, and feel free to write whatever rating you like. To give you an idea of what excites me about the fandoms, here you go!
The Americans - Philip Jennings, Elizabeth Jennings
This is the new show I'm obsessed with. I've recently discovered The Americans discussion group on Dreamwidth that anyone who loves the show should check out--we're doing a rewatch of the first season now. I've written a bit there about things I love about the show if you're wondering about how I see the characters.
Like a lot of people, I'm just obsessed with the relationships on the show, the interplay of lies and truth, questions of identity. I'm especially interested in Philip and Elizabeth, not surprisingly. Where do the lies leave off and the truth begin? We know a lot about Elizabeth's backstory so I'm always wondering about Philip's. I won't ask for a backstory because it'll probably get jossed in February and I don't want to get too attached to a backstory that won't last, but if you're inspired or it helps you bring out his character, have at it! Certain things we can assume about both characters--they're always looking at the US through Russian eyes, but can't ever talk about the contrast. How do they look at their children, for instance? It seems like Paige and Henry are a major thing that drew Philip and Elizabeth together. As parents they have different styles that compliment each other but their commitment is the same and I feel like that must go along way in helping them trust and understand each other as much as they do. I also love stories about their early marriage and child-raising days, ways they figured out how to do things. For instance--how did they decide on Henry and Paige as names? Yay!
Dark Shadows (1966) - Willie Loomis, Barnabas Collins
This one has a strange story to it. I always knew of this show because my older sister was obsessed with it, but I was too young to actually see it. I recently discovered it on Netflix, which starts right when Barnabas shows up. So I got really into it, especially Willie Loomis, and then I wound up getting swamped and couldn't see it! So I've really not seen that much of it! However, I'm still asking for it, because I just really would love it, and I think there's still plenty for you to do since I'm mostly interested in Barnabas and Willie's relationship. I love that it's so old school vampire, and Willie is the kind of character I love--a little worm that everyone hates who then winds up in a bad situation. He's not a hero, so he's not going to be the guy to vanquish the evil, he's just going to suffer, and be very miserable, and have nobody on his side.
The show's older than I am so I'm not going to blame you for any spoilers that might get in there! Slash is fine, if that's where you want to go or where the story takes you. In terms of where I am so far watching I'm very early in their relationship. Don't feel like that means you have to set your story early in the relationship. It might give you a sense of who you're talking to when it comes to details. Yay!
The Office (UK) - Tim Canterbury
I love Tim, and I'm interested in what kinds of adventures (adventures by Office standards, I guess) he might have had in the years between the final ep and the Christmas special. Dawn's gone (taking with her that one bright spot in his life), but feel free to bring in other characters like Gareth or David or hell, even Chris Finch. You can decide what kind of thing you'd like to happen--it can be romantic, funny, sad, unbelievable, crazy--even scary if it goes that way. Whatever thing you think best suits Tim's state of mind during those Dawn-less years. Of course he can think about Dawn, but don't feel like she has to be the center of his thoughts at all times, especially since he's got no reason to think she'll come back. Yay!
Dark is Rising sequence
I'm being blatantly greedy with this one, because I got a wonderful story for this fandom my first year in Yuletide but the world needs more Will/Jane fic so I'm asking for it again since I'd love to see different takes on it. I feel like Will brings out what’s special about Jane because she was the first to see something special in Will (even if she doesn’t yet know/remember what it is). That always seemed almost like a nice metaphor for love to me, the way she sees something more in somebody very ordinary. Also, of course, Jane has an instinctive empathy for the loneliness of immortal magical beings, and Will’s been properly humbled by that in canon. So hopefully that gives you an idea of the kind of tone I tend to like with Will/Jane. Don't feel like you have to write romance at all, though. Gen is absolutely great too. Yay!